Mail Tile ... how can I require a password

[harleynut97]

Hi, I hope I am posting this in the correct part of the forum.

I'm setting up a new laptop that has windows 8.1 for a friend. During the setup we used her existing email address / password. So currently if she selects the mail tile it opens up right into her email.

However, she is very paranoid about security in general, and she doesn't like the idea if she happens to leave her laptop on laying around the house, that anyone can just come up, press the mail button and view her mail.

Is there anyway to set up the preferences, so that when you press that mail tile...a password box comes up and forces you to type in a password?

I am aware that she could use the windows keyboard button +L to lock her whole computer

 

[Brink]

Hello Harley,

Not that I'm aware of. Access to the Mail app is protected by the user account password.

The safest thing to do is lock the computer when leaving the laptop for a bit to prevent unauthorized access.

 

[harleynut97]

Well thanks for confirming it, it seems like it would be a logical thing to have as an option...how often do users walk away from their computer at home or anywhere for that matter and don't lock it.... my guess...quite often.

But then again, so would the ability to increase the tile font size that displays on the start menu tiles for users with sight problems. I'll challenge anybody to try and make that happen.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Hi there. It is not safe to walk away from any computer with any OS on it without signing out or locking it. Windows Key + L will lock it in less than 1 second. There’s Ctrl + Alt + Delete > Lock.

So far as sight goes, there’s Magnifier. Windows Key + Plus key. There are different modes to use and a settings gear. If you want to use a 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] party programs to change font, please see this thread: http://www.eightforums.com/customization/4506-post-your-start-screen.html. Many use them to personalize tiles.

 

[harleynut97]

It is not safe to walk away from any computer with any OS on it without signing out or locking it

While I agree with you that its not safe, I do not feel it actually happens in real life. Your telling me a person is sitting in his house, gets up to get a cup of coffee and and locks his/her computer each time he gets up? Any other person in the house can just come up press the tile and read all their emails. To me it would be incredibly simple for MS to add an option for microsoft mail to give the option for a password.

So far as sight goes, there’s Magnifier. Windows Key + Plus key. There are different modes to use and a settings gear. If you want to use a 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] party programs to change font, please see this thread: Post your Start Screen!.

You can change font size on just about everything in windows... but you cannot for the tile descriptions....why not, I have no idea. I don't think a person should have to use that magnifier tool ( I'm aware of it) to be able to see the words on those tiles.

While many have added custom tiles and have larger fonts... of the ones I looked at, the default start menu icons fonts ie (mail, calender, desktop ect) that comes with windows remain tiny. Now I didnt look for through all of these 100's of pages of peoples start menus, so I could have missed someone who found a way. But if anyone knows a specific 3rd party app that will allow me to increase the font size of the default tiles, I would welcome a link to that app.

 

[Brink]

Harely,

Does the new laptop have a fingerprint reader? If so, it'll make signing in from the lock screen easier and quicker.

 

[harleynut97]

@brink No, her laptop doesn't have that feature. I guess she'll ultimately have to just use the lock feature if she really is concerned about people not having easy access to her email. But she's older, it takes her forever it seems to type in her password to unlock. She's struggling enough right now just trying to get used to windows 8 in general,and all quirks that come along with it.

The biggest problem she is having is as she is moving her fingers across the touchpad to do different things... windows keep changing on her screen and she has to figure out how to go back to where she was. It's incredibly annoying, because it happened to me as well. I'm wondering if this problem has more to do with sensitivity with the touch pad.

 

[Brink]

If she hasn't already, disabling edge swipes on the touchpad may help some with that part.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/20992-touchpad-edge-swipes-enable-disable-windows-8-a.html

 

[harleynut97]

Hey Brink, Thanks for that link, it might be a big help for her.

 

[Barbee]

I removed all my passwords... a nuisance. No one uses my computer except me but she could always switch to Gmail or another Internet mail.